Pacman -Syu segfdault-left with SDDm and no working KDE

General system Pacman & AUR helpers
1

I just did an update on my media server: not even fully built yet: been taking my time to do it right this time

Anyhow sudo pacman -Syu downloaded all of the updates pretty fast (got a 1.5Gbps service), installed about 41/181(?) files? I am not sure of the total files but it was definitely at 41/??? when it segfaulted

I tried to run it once more but pacman couldn’t grab a lock: already locked
SO, I reboot thinking I’ll get a shell, but no, lucky me, I got a resolution so big I have to scroll to realize it is the SDDM login page–with an error about loading the theme (Standard KDE theme-haven’t change anything except making the desktop background a color). I tried to login and the PC simply rebooted again to the exact same 180p or less resolution. Everything is SO huge.

Any ideas why this would happen on an otherwise unremarkable update?

I am going to reinstall anyways but I am curious. If it keeps happening I’ll chalk it up to hardware until I can troubleshoot that. The media server is a 5 or 6 year old desktop so it could have some hardware issues, although it has been working fine until today’s segfault.

2

An interrupted and incomplete update can be pretty serious. Being caused by a segfault is also pretty serious.

You might consider performing a thorough memory test.

The Live ISO will help you with that, and it’ll also help you get back into your system to fix the updates issue. You might refer to this guide which details how to recover a non-booting GRUB (assuming you’re using that), and has a link to how to use arch-chroot, which you’ll also need.

https://discovery.endeavouros.com/system-rescue/repair-a-non-booting-grub/2021/03/

3

Using systemd Bink–tyvm for the link anyways.

I believe I will run memtest–I do at work all the time and I simply forgot here at home.

tyvm for the reminder.

I do not want to repair it, I’ll wipe, reinstall if the memtest passes.

Cheers.